[rklein]

Hi All:

I have been interested for a while now in regards to Nicholas' TVC.  My systems doubles for two channel as well as HT, so I need an HT bypass on my pre (my Odyssey Tempest has the HT bypass).  When I emailed Nicholas about the possibility of adding the HT bypass, he emailed back and said "no problem, it will cost an additional $15"     

For those of you (including myself...) who are or were confused about just what the "Apollo" pre is,  here is Nicholas' reply to my last email asking this question...

Hi Nicholas:

What are the differences between your Apollo pre as opposed to getting the TVC Reference #3 dual mono and the separate Tube active Preamp?  I am still interested in the HT/bypass.  Would I be able to get this with the Apollo or if I get a separate tube active pre?


His reply...

"The Apollo Preamp is just

A)      tube active preamp
B)      TVC reference 4
C)      Because of the cost savings in a combining them, I use this to install V-Caps (a stellar upgrade)

So if you get it separately or together it’s the same

Both can be done with separate HT bypass."

Hope this helps some of you.

Yours,
rklein

 

[Big Red Machine]

Ordered an Apollo with stainless steel housing.  Looking forward to see if it dethrones my Sonic Euphoria.

[rollo]

Georgia on my mind.  How is the Buffer doing. The Georgia tour is in progress. Who has it now? Did Nicholas send the V-caps? Whats up?

  rollo

[GHM]

Georgia on my mind.  How is the Buffer doing. The Georgia tour is in progress. Who has it now? Did Nicholas send the V-caps? Whats up?

  rollo

Early B has the unit now(just got it in the the last day or so)..I have no idea if he has had a chance to listen too it.

[holderlin]

I'm sorry if this has been answered elsewhere. Couldn't one connect the Promi TVC between the source and an active pre and accomplish the same idea (if not the same results)?  I have a Supratek Chardonnay that I prefer to TVC because it has better depth, heft and microdynamics.  I do, however, miss some of the detail of the TVC.  I've just started playing around.  Very initial impressions are that it makes things livelier and snappier.  I'll try putting pre before tvc to see if there' a difference.

Also, I turned the promi's volume control to maximum and the last two or three settings really choke off channel A.  Is there a reason for this?

Thanks,
Bob

[Say]

holderlin,

Something I read about TVC's in general is on this page:  http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/musicfirst2/tap.html


Basically it says that when a TVC has more attenuation (lowered output setting), the tvc drops its output impedance. Which is a good thing since that is what amplifiers like to see. However, when you get up into loud unattenuated territory you will have the component acting poorly. That is where you most likely are having problems, at the last two clicks on your volume control. With other resistive passive preamps you tend to have the opposite issues. Lower volumes have weak and wooly bass. Yet the louder the volume the better it behaves.

With TVc's try to play your system at anything but the last two or three settings on the potentiometer. Once you can live with that, no reisistor pre can touch it.

[Hajime Sato]

Hi All,

I have been a user of TVC and recently received Nicholas' tube active pre. I'd like to share with you my email to Nicholas after 100 hours of break-in.

-----
Nicholas,

I like the TVC with tube pre better than the TVC alone, because it gives me a lot more powerful midrange and bass without sacrificing much of the clarity, openness and resolution of the TVC. The midrange has more bloom and substance, and now I hear real powerful bass. There is a very slight reduction in openness, but it is hardly noticeable. So, a lot of improvements with very little sacrifice!

Before getting the active tube pre, I liked the TVC a lot, but after listening to it with the active tube pre, I don't think I can ever go back!

When I first set it up, I heard a hum. But after I moved my CD player away from the TVC and the power supply unit of the tube pre away from the main unit, then the hum went away. After that, the TVC + active tube pre combo is dead quiet. I stick my ears to my tweeter and I don't hear anything. That's great for a tube based design!

The only small quibble I have is that the umbilical power cord inlet on the power supply unit is loose and it turns. I opened the bottom panel to take a look. I think it's a matter of tightening the nut inside, but because of all the wires connected, I don't think I have access to that area. But I guess it's not a big deal. It works fine.

So, overall, with about 100 hour break-in, I am very happy with the tube pre. I think you have a wonderful combination here that can beat a lot of $3000 - $5000 active preamps in terms of sound quality. Congratulations!
-----

Happy listening to you all!

[JPB-GA]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum, but not to Promitheus Audio products, so I thought I might share with you my experience with their new tube active preamp (TAP).

I've been using the tube active preamp for about 2 weeks so far, sometimes connected with a vintage McIntosh amplifier (from the 60's), or with my Consonance Cyber-800 mono blocs. To start, I can say that adding the TAP to my set-up (with the Promitheus passive TVC), made a big positive difference in sound. The bass became very clear, tight and articulate, much more than with the TVC alone. The whole sound became also clearer, more open, more focused, with more air around the instruments (better imaging). With 6 dB gain, it also gives much more drive to my amps.

My speakers are really full range (down to 20 Hz), and so far the bass does not go that low with the TAP. I talked to Nicholas, and as the break-in progresses, that low bass should appear. Already, after 2 weeks, it is getting better, going lower, while keeping a clean and articulate character.

One thing I also tried, is doing some tube rolling with the 5Y3 (on the external power supply). I have a Sylvania, a Raytheon and the original GE. Each of these gives a different, distinctive taste to the sound (GE: more laidback, 3D sound, a bit dark; Sylvania: flatter sound, less dynamic; Raytheon: very clean, dynamic sound, 3D, more direct). At this time, I use the Raytheon (RCA built, I think). I recently ordered a 5Y3WBT Bendix model, which is supposed to be the best available 5Y3 tube.

To conclude, the TAP was a great addition to my setup, and I could not live without it now.

I can't recommend it enough if you want to improve an already excellent product (the passive TVC), or want to get more gain from the preamp. Nicholas is doing a great job!

[tanchiro58]

One thing I also tried, is doing some tube rolling with the 5Y3 (on the external power supply). I have a Sylvania, a Raytheon and the original GE. Each of these gives a different, distinctive taste to the sound (GE: more laidback, 3D sound, a bit dark; Sylvania: flatter sound, less dynamic; Raytheon: very clean, dynamic sound, 3D, more direct). At this time, I use the Raytheon (RCA built, I think). I recently ordered a 5Y3WBT Bendix model, which is supposed to be the best available 5Y3 tube.

Try Mullard GZ34 BVA you will be amazed how the Apollo preamp sweetens your music. 

[aod]

General Ramblings of the Promitheus TVC/Preamp in my rig

Hmm, I don’t often write reviews as the system character is a personal preference and very very system synergy dependent. I’ve been round the hifi merry-go-round and finally, I feel, I have reached where I want to be, with the Promitheus audio TVC and Preamp as part of the rig. My current system is in the final (yeah right!) stages of tweaking. I am now fine tuning the power supply to the system. I also learnt, ( a bit late … but better late than never) that without a properly treated room, it’s a waste of time and money trying to optimise your system to get your sound. If the room ain’t right, nothing will be right. My room is treated with some broadband panel traps, tube traps and diffusers. Luckily, the power delivery to my hifi is via two dedicated heavy gauge lines.

So, before running out and buying new equipment, ensure that your room is moderately treated and the power lines coming in for the hifi system are dedicated lines. With this, you now have the foundation to build your system upon. You just might be pleasantly surprised just how good your current system sound just by doing this.

First, the mandatory system list in painful detail :-

TT : JAW Andromeda
Cartridge : Denon 103R
Arm : Graham 1.5 t/c
Cable : JPS FX
Phono stage : Whest
Cable : JPS FX
TVC : Promitheus Reference
Preamp : Promitheus 5687 based (+ Hal-O)
Cable : Canare L-2T2S (7 metres)
Active Sub : JBL LSR 6312SP
Cable : Canare L-2T2S (3 metres)
Active Monitors : JBL LSR 6328P

After giving up on my VAC/Genesis & Naim/Living Voice systems, I set out looking for a new system with a different set of goals. The components had to be units by which professionals made a living by. Value for money, robust, accurate.

So, the JBL’s and Denon became part of my set up. Only the Whest phono stage remains unchanged for quite some time. All I needed was a preamp. After much reading, I thought I would give the passive preamps a go. The obvious first choice was the Bent. The price was prohibitive but… I felt that it would work. (after fiddling with hifi for such a long time, you sort of get a feel of what will work and what won’t). I happened to come by Promitheus by chance and thought… why not. Honestly, it was Nicholas’ non pushy, accommodating style that really won me over. After getting to know him better, I also learnt that he does have an uncannily correct sense of how things should sound.

Prior to auditioning the TVC, I did audition some preamps from very established manufacturers. Their products were very very good but alas, did not synergise with MY system to give the  sound character I was looking for. One of the preamps (tubed, made in UK) cost about SG$9,000 and the other costing at about SG$16,000 ( solid state, made in Switzerland). I also tried a Rotel RC 9808X and a DIY unit (tubed, 5687 based) from a good friend.

I made quite a few difficult requests for my TVC and Nicholas accommodated most of them. Some of my requests were …. not too clever I admit, and he advised me … why they would not work, backed up with solid reasoning. Still being cautious, I requested for a loaner to audition. That did it. I placed an order for my TVC … with a few of my ideas added in.

What did the TVC sound with my active Pro-audio monitors. Unbelievably lush and rich. I mean like, a vocalist was right there smack in the middle of my speakers… on a stage many feet behind the speakers. Now this is an accomplishment in my small room (13ft length x 10 ft width x 9ft high). I threw everything at the system, Janice Ian, Patricia Barber, Slayer, Megadeth, Sodom, Kreator, Nat King Cole, Aretha Franklin, Helloween, Johnny Cash, Iron Maiden, LA4, Ataulfo Agenta .. the works, and tonal accuracy and richness was always there. Amazing. This was music. Albeit a little laid back.

The only thing I missed. The musical punch. Music through the TVC leaves for nothing wanting for those who prefer calmer, vocal based music. For my slightly more .. ‘ahem’ aggressive musical taste (80% of my collection is either heavy, death, speed or black metal), I needed the slam … WITHOUT sacrificing what the TVC already gave. I am a greedy bugger. I wanted it all.

So I spoke to Nicholas-san about the slam I needed. VOILA! He said that he had just come up with a preamp to support the TVC! Perfect timing. After listening to the TVC, I had to doubt of what I would receive from Promitheus would be to my expectations. Again, being the difficult person that I am, I had to request for one of the most difficult tubes to use, the very microphonic 5687. I also wanted the C-core transformers with it. I requested for Amorphous C-Core transformer but Nicholas advised against it. I took his advise.

Nicholas took quite some time for this project. This was a full custom job. Not only did he have to find a way of isolating the tubes, he also had to tune the transformer to match. My request was that the addition of the preamp should not take away any of the beautiful musical presentation of the TVC. Told you I was difficult.

The Preamp finally arrives. And I popped it into the system. Being a smarty-pants, I used another set of Canare-2T2S to connect the TVC to the pre-amp. Nope. Did not work. The system sounded hard. There is a system synergy with the copper Promitheus interconnects. Use them.

What happened next was nothing less than astounding. I actually bothered to run-in the preamp for close to 400 hours. I have never bothered to do this ever. Why did I do it. I knew that this kit deserved it.

My wife Charn, who is my ‘ consultant ‘  when purchasing audio gear, or evaluating my newly designed turntables or tone arms,  gave the newly run-in system the OK. Now that simple OK of hers carries mega tons more weight that the meaningless hollow flowery descriptive acrobatics of most ‘professional’’ reviewers.  Charn is very simple in her analysis of a component. It’s either too harsh, too slow, too far back, to bassy or OK. For example, I recently tried out a power cord. I put on slayers Reign in Blood. In 5 seconds, she got up and said, ‘too harsh’. It took me a further 10 minutes to realise she was right.

Back to the TVC/Preamp combo. Now, the system sounded right.  Slam, speed, rich tonality, good focus and more immediate sounding. Just the way I like my music. Vocalists still had the chesty tonality that makes for a more involving listen. Plucked guitars had the correct attack that was a little slow before the addition of the preamp. Distorted guitars had crunch, snare drums had attack and snap, bass drums were punchy and bass guitars had weight and clarity.

For classical music (yes, I actually own quite a few classical records, strange as it may seem), orchestras sounded big and clear. Many preamps tend to present orchestral pieces with nice  flow but tend to muddle up the instruments. With the TVC/preamp in my rig, you could hear each instrument section. And, listening to chamber music was just beautiful. The system did not accentuate any particular frequency range and was up there with the best of rigs. The addition of the preamp did take a way a wee bit of the rich chesty-ness of vocal music but, added so much more to the overall musical experience. This little compromise I could live with. And, if I REALLY wanted to go back to the TVC sound, all I had to do was to take the preamp out of the chain. So, really, I have the flexibility to have it all.

Yes, I know there is a lot of ‘blah’ in my review of the Promitheus TVC/Preamp but I want to try and present the whole picture. Ultimately, the TVC/Preamp combo I own has given me what I wanted, irrespective of cost. Can anyone ask for more?

The latest mods I have done to the system have been to change the standard wall socket to an Oyaide R1 socket and change the power distributor which feeds the active monitors and sub from a Wiremold to a Oyaide MTB4. The power cable connecting the MTB4 to the R1 wall socket is the Acrolink 4030 fitted with Oyaide 046/047 plugs. This has improved the overall system ‘speed’ and improved the highs, mids and bass.

 Jag